Refrigerating apparatus



April 8, 1930. J. R. REPLOGLE 1953;943

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Ja/m/ Eff/ 40645 A TTORNE Y.

April 1 J. R. RERLOGLE I 1,753,943

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 15 1.926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 gr? 7 wm ATTORNEY.

April 1930- r. J. R. REPLOGLE I 1,753,943

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS I Filed Sept. 15 1926 3- Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES" I PATENT OFFICE JOHN R. REPLOGLE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

KELVINATOR CORPORATION, OI DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHI- GAN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Application filed September 15, 1926. Serial No. 135,499.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to heat absorbing mechanism of the type in which air in a chamber is mechanically circulated in direct contact with a vaporizer or evaporator,

this invention being an improvement upon the structure of the same general nature contained in my pending application, Serial No. 475,334, filed June 6, 1921.

An object of-the invention is to construct and arrange a vaporizer structure in a manner so that a maximum amount of heat will be absorbed from air mechanically circulated thereagainst.

'Another object of my invention is to provide a'self-contained heat transfer structure including the vaporizer and the fan which are constructed and associated to cause air circulating within a chamber to pass in a confined path into direct contact with the evaporator.

Another object of my invention is to provide a heat transfer structure and a housing in which is assembled the said heat transfer structurewhich includes the va orizer and fan as a unitary structure remova ly installed as a (pnit within the chamber to be refrigerate These and other objects will be apparent.

the side wall andcirculation baflie broken away to show the interior construction.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 4 is a view showing how this heat transfer apparatus may be mounted within a chamberto be refrigerated.

A represents a chamber to be maintained at a low range of temperature, and brackets 10 are secured therein to support a housing 11. This housing is constructed of lower and upper horizontal angle frame members 12 and 13 respectively, which are connected togther by the vertical posts 14. Brackets 15- of any suitable design may be used to rein force the corners of this frame structure, the angles being riveted or otherwise secured to these brackets, as at 16, and to the posts at 16. I enclose this frame structure with the panels 17, leaving OK the bottom panel so as to provide an air outlet opening, and in the top panel I provide a relatively large opening 18 serving as an air inlet. These panels are secured to the angles of the frame struc-- the fan will force the air downwardly through the housing. f

Bolted or riveted to the top horizontal frame members 13 are the cross braces 22, and secured to each of these cross braces near its extremities 'is the depending bracket 23. A vaporizer unit 24 is arranged to be clamped to these depending brackets 23 by means of the U-shaped straps 25 which-clamp around the circular header 26 of the vaporizer unit and are bolted to the brackets 23 by the bolts 27.

Depending from this header portion of the vaporizer are a plurality of U-shaped pipe loops 28, these loops extending in a vertical plane to a point adjacent the bottom of the housing, the sides of the U-shaped pipe loops extending beyond the header. The loops are spaced from each other and their adjacent sides are flat, thus presenting a maximum surface for contacting with the air, and re- This quiring a minimum amount of refrigerant.

Fig. 1 shows how this vaporizer is centrally positioned within the housing, and the fan is centered in the top of the housing directly over the vaporizer.

In order to prevent any of the air from sweeping downwardly through the housing and passing to the outside of the pipe loops beyond the effective cooling zone, I provide the air deflectors 30 and 30, these deflectors being each secured to one of the side Walls of the housing. .The lower portion of each mounted within the chamber A.

deflector is curved slightly inwardly so as to contact with the pipe loops, and the upper portion of each deflector is flanged outward- 1y, as at 31, and bolted or otherwise secured to one of the upper horizontal angle members 13.

The air which is forced downwardly through the housing is deflected in towards the center of the housing by these deflector plates, thereby causing the air to flow in close proximity to these pipe loops, and thus utilizing the full exterior surface of the vaporizer for effecting the heat transfer. With this construction there is no chance for any of the air to pass outside of the cooling zone,

as it is confined to travel in a definite path as above described.

Located at some convenient point within the chamber A is a thermostatic switch 32,

which is responsive to the temperature of the air within the chamber A. When the temperature of the air within this chamber rises to a predetermined point the switch is thrown on turning the motor-on for operating the fan, thereby inducing a forced draft of air through the housing in which is mounted the vaporizer.

From the above description it may plainly be seen that this heat transfer apparatus is assembled together as a unitary structure, and is composed of these several elements, to-wit: A housing in which the vaporizer is securely mounted, a fan and fan motor and a support for the same secured to the housing. This heat transfer apparatus is removably If desirable this apparatus could be bolted to the bracket 10 by the bolts 33..

The construction set forth in the foregoing description effects a maximum heat transfer. The construction and shape of the pipe loops is such that the maximum amount of surface area is exposed to the air currents which are confined to travel in a definite path so as to be directed a ainst these pipe loops. The construction of the pipe loops permits a rapid heat transfer to take place and the mechanical means for circulating the air makes full use of this condition by speeding up the velocity of the air through the housing. In addition, this mechanical air circulating means promotes a better circulation of air in the refrigerated chamber.

While I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it understood that various changes in construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, as pointed out in the appended claims. I

What I claim is:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat transfer structure comprising a housing provided with air inlet and outlet openings, a vaporizer secured within said housing and including a plurality of dependingpipe loops,

mechanical means for circulating air through said housing, and converging air deflectors positioned on opposite sides of said housing adapted to constrict the air passage therethrough adjacent said pipe loops.

2. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat transfer structure comprising a housing provided with air inlet and outlet openings in the top and bottom walls respectively, a vaporizer secured within said housing and including a plurality of depending pipe loops, mechanical means for circulating air downwardly through said housing, and air deflectors secured within said housing and curved laterally toward the pipe loops for deflecting the air and causing the same to travel in a confined path within which said pipe loops are disposed.

3. In a refrigerating apparatus, a heat transfer structure comprising a housing provided with air inlet and outlet openings in the top and bottom walls respectively, a vaporizer secured within said housing and provided with depending pipe loops spaced apart and flattened on adjacent sides to provide pipe sections giving a maximum of surface area with a minimum of capacity, a fan for circulating air through said housing, and air deflectors for deflecting the air and causing the same to travel in a confined path in which said .pipe loops are disposed, the said air currents passing through the space between said pipe loops which permits the air to contact with the flattened side of said pipe loops for effecting the maximum heat transfer from the air to the refrigerant Within said pipe loops.

4..In refrigerating apparatus, a unitary mobile heat transfer structure comprising a self supporting housing provided with air inlet and outlet openings, a va )orizer secured within said housing and including a plurality of parallel pipe loops, mechanical means for circulating air through said housing, and deflectors in said housing extending transversely to the loops for directing air into a confined path in close proximity thereto while passing through said housing.

In testimony whereof, Ili-hereunto afiix my signature.

JOHN R. REPLOGLE. 

